Behind the Scenes: Voto Latino Power Summit NYC 2014 (Part 2)

Remember Behind the Scenes Part 1? It's time for the long-awaited Part 2!

The conference started out on Friday with an opening reception at John Jay.

Team photo!

Our President & CEO (María Teresa Kumar) spoke, along with our Co-Founder & Chairwoman (Rosario Dawson), and our Artist Coalition Co-Chair (Wilmer Valderrama). It was especially neat to listen to the celebrities speak. We didn't prepare talking points for them for the reception, but they spoke from the heart, and their passion for the cause was clear to everyone in the room. I was so impressed with their commitment and their leadership. It really is an honor to work with such dedicated folks.

In fact, one of the highlights for me, was an impromptu PSA we made with Wilmer. We had a few extra minutes with him and our videographer, and my boss pulled me aside and wanted to quickly write up a script for a PSA for one of our campaigns! We went with #TrendUrVoice, since it's our biggest voter registration campaign this year. I quickly typed up a script and gave it to Wilmer for approval.

He made one or two minor tweaks on my MacBook and decided he was good with it. Then he said, "Hey, why don't we just make the video on the laptop?" Our VP of Digital thought it was a good idea, since it would give the video a more "organic" feel. Then Wilmer thought, "Hey, why don't I just record it on my iPhone and send it to you guys?" And then the scene below ensued.



Selfie-style filming didn't really work, so Tadao, Wilmer's bodyman held the iPhone, while Avery and Steve held up a #TrendUrVoice tablecloth (ie- makeshift backdrop), and Wilmer gave us his spiel.

It was fun to see how excited he got to make a video encouraging young people to register to vote. And I loved that we put this whole thing together on the fly! (I'll share the video later in the campaign cycle. :) Promise!)

Along with our breakfast, lunch, and evening plenaries (featuring awesome speakers like... Maria Hinojosa, Arianna Huffington, etc.), we had three sessions of workshops on Saturday. I got to moderate one of them!



We had an awesome discussion about how to use Media to Impact Change. My panelists were amazing, we had really good audience questions, and we even had a great article written about us!

Another highlight for me was getting to prep talking points/speeches and coordinate media. There's just something reeeeeally satisfying about watching you've helped prepare, deliver really great remarks or give an awesome interview/speech.



The evening ended with a networking reception + book signing with Arianna Huffington (everyone got copies of her new book, Thrive) and a conversation with Arianna, Rosario, and María Teresa.




And a few shots from the evening plenary:




OK, but reeeeeally, the night ended with this (a lot of clean-up and packing):

We did it! (photo from MT)

and this (teriyaki chicken!):

photo cred: our waiter, via Jimmy's phone

One Power Summit down, three to go. Hasta la próxima!

Professional photos from VL photographer | iPhone photos by me

Reading the Scriptures Chronologically

I've been reading the scriptures chronologically -- or at least my best guess of what the proper chronological order is. I searched online for a timeline of all the LDS scriptures (we read four books -- the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price), but I couldn't find a reliable one.

Actually, the problem is most timelines only feature Book of Mormon chronology. Very few cross-reference ALL of the standard works, and this timeline I found that seemed like it would at least help me sort out the Jaredite timeline cost more than I wanted to pay. (Though the online preview was helpful! Per them, the Jaredite civilization lasted from around 2500-500 BC.) This image from this blog post was also helpful.

So I'm doing my best based on what I know and reading a few things online to get some background info. (Though if anyone has insight on the timeline of the Book of Ether... please send any info., my way!)

I found this interesting chart that explains the lineage of Abraham, and I wanted to save it somewhere, so... here it is. A more detailed explanation for this chart can be found here.

I'm only in Genesis 25 right now, but since I'm going chronologically, I've read a good portion of the Pearl of Great Price, and part of the Book of Ether already. It's been fascinating to read this way! I forget that at the same time as a lot of the events as early as Genesis, there were people in the Americas whose story is told in the Book of Mormon! (I haven't yet read up to where the Jaredites get wiped out in the BoM.)

It was also particularly interesting to read about the Creation across the various accounts (Genesis, Moses, Abraham), and I know there's even more insight to be had in the Doctrine & Covenants! And actually, I stated my reading in Abraham, where Abraham converses with God about the cosmos and the pre-Creation. Such amazing stuff!

And because I want to connect more with my patriarchal blessing, I've also been taking notes as I've read about Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, etc. on their personal qualities and traits. I really want to get to know them as people and as ancestors, and not just as long-gone people I read about in the scriptures.

So far, I've mostly just been reading online (Thanks, Google and Wikipedia!), and I've even read about beliefs re: Abraham, etc. from the Quran (super interesting to learn about shared beliefs and differences!) but again, if anyone has recommendations of good books or resources to learn about historical context, cultural norms, etc., please let me know!

It's Always Darkest

I wrote an email to my brother this weekend, and I mentioned my most recent... "romantic" flop. (I have a lot of those. ;) )

It occurred to me that although it IS discouraging to put myself out there so much, only to... FLOP COMPLETELY. Even though it really, really stinks... It's really an act of faith. An act of faith that God keeps His promises. An act of faith that good things will come. An act of faith that there really IS someone out there for me. 

Related:

Last night, I was chatting with a dear friend about some discouraging times and thoughts in her life -- things that I think we've all felt and experienced (Seriously -- who in this great big world is not familiar with discouragement?), and she left my house around 11pm.

(Background: Monday - Wednesday, the weather in the DC area was rain. POURING rain. Flood-warnings-and-me-standing-in-ankle-deep-puddles-at-cross-walks rain.)

I walked downstairs with her, and I had a moment of inspiration! 

I told her to look around at the darkness and to listen to the pouring rain around us. The weather forecast for the next day said, "Sunny and 70 degrees." At that moment, it was hard to imagine, hard to visualize that it could possibly be sunny and 70 the next day, and I told her to remember when she felt the warmth and saw the sun the next day, that "it's always darkest before the dawn." (Or something like that.)

I'm happy to report that today was beautiful, and sunny, and warm (I even went on a bike ride on the Mall!). I can't wait for the day that I no longer have to make a fool out of myself, but I suppose until then, I'll keep flopping... and getting back up. :)

image 1 | image 2

That is SO fetch!

Happy 10-year anniversary, Mean Girls! Here's how we're celebrating at work:

We wear pink on Wednesdays.

I guess it's time to accept that "fetch" really ISN'T going to happen.

An Afternoon in the City of Brotherly Love

While Camille and her parents were out at a party their friends threw for them, I stowed away for a few hours to explore the City of Brotherly Love.

My first stop? The Liberty Bell, of course! But first, Independence Hall:






Now, the Liberty Bell!

My first attempt at a Liberty Bell selfie failed miserably.

Nailed it!

I asked a stranger to help me,  just to be safe. :)

Now for a small tangent: 

The "scarf" I'm wearing in these photos is actually a peştemal I got in Istanbul last summer (remember that time I went to Istanbul and never posted about it? Whoops... I'll get around to it. Really!). My peştemal is my ver most favorite souvenir! It's a special towel used in the Turkish baths (hamams). I learned about them from Mara before I went on my trip, and I was determined to bring one back. I love it! Next time, I'm gonna get one in a darker color, so I can use it as a picnic/beach/park blanket without having to worry about it getting dirty!

Now for another tangent:

After I'd left the Liberty Bell, it occurred to me that... Although I'd taken a gazillion photos (mostly selfies? ha.), I hadn't actually taken time to just admire the bell, to really take it in. Y me da tanta pena! I can take selfies anywhere. I can google pictures of the bell, for crying out loud. But it's not every day I'm in Philadelphia to see it in person. Me da pena que no aproveche el tiempo que estuve allí... And it fits SO perfectly with Ashley's lesson in Relief Society today about things that distract us (in this case, like... social media, selfies, etc.) from what's most important (in this case, being PRESENT). I was so worried about having photos to show off later, I didn't take time to fully enjoy the bell in the moment.

After meandering this part of town for a bit, I wandered off to see some of the other nearby sites.

Like the Second National Bank (which had GORGEOUS columns! and a couple taking engagement photos in front. I kid you not, I saw at least FIVE couples taking wedding or engagement photos in the space of two hours within a just a few blocks.), a frame outline of Benjamin Franklin's former home, and the typical East Coast mix of gorgeous red bricks, cobblestones (which I just don't get, to be honest. it hurst to walk!), and greens and flowers!

After I took that last photo on the right, I explored the shops for a bit and ended up at a little souvenir shop, where I had the loveliest conversation with Tina, the owner! She thought I was in high school, maybe college, which just made me smile, and she gave me great safety tips for navigating the mean streets of Philly on my own. As we chatted, our conversation turned towards Easter and Church and the fact that I'm Mormon. She said she LOVED Mormons and that we were such nice people and such a nice religion! She asked me what the difference is between our Church and Christian churches.

I explained to her that we ARE Christians, as we believe Jesus Christ is our Savior and the Son of God. That He lived, died, and rose again on the third day.

I also told her about how Christ established a Church when He was here on the earth, and that He has always called prophets to guide His people -- including today. The concept of a prophet was new to her (at first, she thought I meant profit), and when I offered her a mormon.org card, she gave me her business card and told me to email her more info. Since she was Taiwanese, I also told her about my brother, how he's serving a Mandarin-speaking mission in England, and I told her I'd have him write to her also, since I know he'd love the chance to practice writing Mandarin. :) 

Tina was such a sweet lady, and I felt her spirit was special. I'm excited to keep in touch with her via email (we've already corresponded last week!) and to answer any other questions she might have about prophets, the Church, and most importantly, about Jesus Christ. :)

And what trip to Philly would be complete without a visit to Love Park, City Hall, and at least one cheesesteak??

peppersteak wit'out, american cheese, please!

I had such a great time exploring the City of Brotherly Love! It definitely made me want to learn more about the city's rich history and the significant and sacred events that happened here so long ago. It was also more fun than I expected to take a break and go touristing on my own. But I think next time, I'll take a friend. :)

Until next time, Philadelphia!